In 2006, when HPD resumed DNA
testing after an ignominious halt, it was announced that there were 4,000 rape
kits waiting to be tested. Remember that the lab was first shut down in 2002
because unqualified technicians were handling the testing, correct protocol was
ignored, samples were being kept under a leaky roof, and assorted other
fuck-wittery. Several years later, that number was bumped to over 6,000.
Well, it appears that HPD has
finally sent the last of those kits out to independent labs to be tested. The
samples may be degraded by now; there were reports of improper storage, of
water leaking onto the kits, etc.
The articles I can find don’t seem
to really specify how many of these kits are from cases that have already gone
to court, and how many have already been tried. Imagine for a moment going
through a trial, knowing there was DNA evidence that may affect the outcome,
but not being given access to it.
This is encouraging to me, and I
hope to all of you, because someone is trying.
Whether the attitude towards the accused has shifted, or they’re just tired of
the bad publicity, this is a great effort on the part of HPD.
My only qualm is the curious absence
of any mention of how they intend to notify interested parties of the results;
once the tests are completed and sent back to the HPD, who will they tell? Will
the the defense lawyers in these cases be informed if there was mismatched DNA,
or will it simply disappear down the memory hole? How many defense lawyers were
simply never informed that there was DNA evidence?
The whole thing reminds me of the
Jonathon Salvador issue. At what point does a government entity’s bad behavior call for a
complete re-set of the entire system?
All in all, this is encouraging. As far we know there was never any DNA taken in Coy's case, so this will not help him personally. Still, I hope very much that it represents a commitment on the part of Harris County to focus more on justice, and less on expediency.
7 comments:
Most of those defense attorneys were probably glad that those rape kits weren't tested. No harm done.
Anon 1:05:
No harm done if you're a whack-job who doesn't believe rapists should be punished; you won't find any here, though.
Wait. I thought that was why we were all here. Aren't we trying to free someone who was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child?
Anon 12:40:
Well, we're trying to get that someone a new trial; do you understand it's possible to advocate for the wrongfully convicted, while still believing the guilty should be held accountable?
Well, guilty or not, they should let him go anyway. Women were put on this world for men to ravage. If a man has an itch he needs to scratch, the woman just needs to bend over and give that shit up. Regardless of age too.
Is this your synopsis of my opinion?
In all seriousness, you can bet the defense attorneys were glad the rape kits weren't tested. If a defense attorney has a choice between testing a rape kit, or not testing a rape kit, the defense attorney will choose the latter. They would simply prefer not to test something that will likely further incriminate their client.
DNA isn't always a smoking gun either. Most cases are solved without DNA evidence. Whether it's murder, rape, assault, robbery, whatever, it doesn't really matter. DNA can even be complicated, for example, if a rape victim has a boyfriend that she is sexually active with.
I will also say that a crime lab that keeps evidence under a leaky roof is shameful to say the least. I can only hope that the cases weren't adversely affected and improvements were made. I too share the sentiment that Harris County needs to focus more on justice, and less on expediency.
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